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Kendall Holt, who will face WBO junior welterweight champion Ricardo Torres in a much-anticipated rematch Saturday night on SHO BOX, spoke with Marc Abrams and Joon Lee on The Boxing Show.
Q: We're a few days away. Quick thought on the fight.
Kendall Holt: Victorious. I will be victorious!
Q: Do you feel any advantage knowing this fight is taking place in Las Vegas?
Holt: No, because if anything, the champion has a bit of an edge and a bit of an advantage because sometimes rounds are close and the judges are looking for someone to give it to. Most of the time, nine out of 10 times, those close rounds will go to the champion. So he still has a bit of an edge as well.
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| Kendall Holt will face Ricardo Torres in a rematch on Saturday night. (US Presswire) |
Holt: I don't have to deal with that type of hostile crowd, but everywhere I fight, there's always someone that is hostile, shouting obscenities and things of that nature. I'm relieved I don't have to deal with anybody throwing things in the ring. I don't believe I will be subject to being hit by beer cans or anything like that, so I'm relieved about that.
Q: I guess there's an old adage in life, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." How much does that ring true with what you just went through in Columbia?
Holt: It just made me more focused. Sometimes things are right, sometimes they're not, but no matter what, you got to keep going on, you got to keep pushing forward. And that's what I did after I didn't get the immediate rematch. The appeals were denied. I just resumed my career.
Q: Have you made any changes to your game plan since the fight? You were doing absolutely well boxing him from the outside until the 11th round. Do you see a similar fight as your first fight, except with you winning this time.
Holt: In this training camp I practiced being more active. Just being more active with more punches. Not letting opportunities get by me. I'm a slick counter-puncher. So, a lot of times in the first fight, I would slip a punch and I wouldn't take advantage of him missing shots. This time I plan on taking full advantage of him missing shots.
Q: The fact that most people who saw the fight thought that you were winning the fight -- do you think that's a psychological advantage to know that you guys fought 32 minutes or so and you probably won about 28 or 29 of them?
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Holt: Well, I don't think there's any psychological advantage because of the first time. But we know each other more, so he will try to tweak his game and plan a little bit. I'm going to do the same thing. We know each other a little bit more, so we know what to expect. I don't expect anything to be too different because a cheetah can't change its spots. So if he tries something, he will eventually go back to what he used to do. I will take advantage of my boxing skills; take advantage of the fight and at times I will move forward and press the action.
Q: You have fought on a lot of ShoBox-type of fights but it has to be a little bit different. Last Saturday there was a big press conference for this fight. This is the big fight this weekend. A lot has been written and talked about you the past few years. Your fight is pretty much the center of the boxing world this weekend? How does it feel?
Holt: I don't really have any thoughts. People will say what they want. I'm out here in Vegas living my dream. Just being out here in Vegas. You know, headlining in Vegas -- only the best headline in Vegas. (That) just changes my focus on the task at hand.
Q: Where would a win this Saturday put you in the 140-pound mix. Do you see yourself fighting the Hattons, the Malignaggi's and such?
Holt: I see myself there right now. It's just that I don't have the championship belt that goes along with that type of hype. As soon as I strap on that belt on Saturday night, I will be right there mentioned. When they mention any top 140-pounder in the division, they can't mention anyone in the 140-pound division without mentioning Kendall Holt's name.
Q: Kendall, we thank you for a few minutes of your time. We know you're just a few days away. Any final thoughts before we see you Saturday night on ShoBox as you get your much-anticipated rematch with Ricardo Torres?
Holt: I would just like everyone to know that on the Fourth of July every year you see fireworks. This year there is going to be a special treat from me: You will get to see fireworks on the fifth of July as well!
